Ratlike hamster

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Ratlike Hamsters
Fossil range: Late Miocene to Recent
Chinese hamster, white-spotted type
Chinese hamster, white-spotted type
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Cricetinae
Genus: Cricetulus
Milne-Edwards, 1867
Species

Cricetulus alticola
Cricetulus barabensis
Cricetulus griseus
Cricetulus kamensis
Cricetulus longicaudatus
Cricetulus migratorius
Cricetulus sokolovi

The ratlike hamsters are a group of hamsters that inhabit arid or semi-arid regions in Eurasia. The group consists of several species in the genus Cricetulus. They tend to be more ratlike in appearance than typical hamsters, hence the common name. With the exception of the Chinese hamster, they are aggressive as hamsters go and are generally considered poor pets.

Members of the genera Allocricetulus, Tscherskia, and Cansumys are often called ratlike hamsters and are considered to be members of the genus Cricetulus by many authorities.

[edit] Species

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  • Duff, A. and A. Lawson. 2004. Mammals of the World A Checklist. New Haven, Yale University Press.
  • Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9